Chapter 14: I Have No Objections
Seeing her indifferent appearance, Hong Ye grew anxious. “Madam, your shops are about to be gone, why aren’t you worried yet?”
Jiang Ruanxi lifted her head from the book, looking at Hong Ye with some amusement. She smiled and said, “You girl, what are you anxious about? Don’t worry, the things she took will be returned twofold.”
Seeing her confident appearance, the anxiety in Hong Ye’s heart settled down.
Jiang Ruanxi thought of something, and her face turned serious. “Go tell He Kui about the matter of hoarding medicinal herbs and have him hurry.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Hong Ye was somewhat puzzled. Things were already at a crisis point, yet Madam still had the mood to care about other matters?
**
After finishing the meal, Madam Zhou put down her chopsticks.
“The Marquis hasn’t come back for so many years. This time he might get a promotion. Our family hasn’t had such good news for a long time, so I discussed it with the Marquis and plan to hold a welcome banquet to liven things up.”
Jiang Ruanxi paused while chewing her food for a moment but soon continued chewing. She looked up indifferently and said, “Mother is right. The Marquis returning is a happy occasion. I have no objection to this matter.”
“Mm, since it’s a banquet, we naturally should invite all relatives and friends. Yongyi Marquis Manor is your maternal home, so we should send an invitation there too, right?”
Hearing this, Jiang Ruanxi immediately understood what was going on. She had refused to let Madam Wei see Lin Xiao, so Madam Wei was using this method?
“Of course.” Jiang Ruanxi just smiled again. “But since it’s a banquet, shouldn’t we also send an invitation to Second Sister’s manor?”
“Your Second Sister just had a miscarriage and is resting. I think we can skip Zhenguo Marquis Manor.”
“Mother, if Second Sister is unavailable, isn’t there still the Heir Apparent’s Wife? After all, they are in-laws. We’ve sent an invitation to Yongyi Marquis Manor, so there’s no reason to omit Zhenguo Marquis Manor, or others will gossip. Don’t you think so?”
Madam Zhou was in a dilemma. Although Jiang Xuerou was Lin Xiao’s mother and they could meet privately without issue, what if they were exposed at such a public occasion?
But Jiang Ruanxi was also making sense, and she had no way to refuse, so she could only turn her gaze to her own son.
Lin Ningkun thought that he finally had a chance to see Jiang Xuerou and agreed without thinking. “Naturally we can’t omit it. Let’s send one together.”
He hadn’t seen Jiang Xuerou for several days. She had returned to Zhenguo Marquis Manor, making it even harder for him to see her.
He was holding this banquet just to see her, so if she came to the manor this time, at least he could catch a distant glimpse of her.
Jiang Ruanxi was very clear about his thoughts. Suppressing the disgust in her heart, she said, “Since the Marquis has no objection, then this matter is settled.”
Those two wanted to treat her like a dead person and flirt under her nose? No way.
“Second Sister-in-law, after all, it’s a family banquet. You must prepare the food and dishes well. Don’t make it seem petty, or people will laugh.”
To take revenge on Jiang Ruanxi for deducting her expenses, Lin Tingting wouldn’t let go of such a good opportunity.
If it were before, Jiang Ruanxi would naturally agree and even try to please her, but now, she wouldn’t indulge her like that.
“Third Sister is overthinking it. The marquis manor’s family banquets have rules. Everything is done according to the marquis manor’s rules. If Third Sister wants it to be grand, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.”
Lin Tingting lived in Lin Family. Her daily food, clothing, and expenses were good, but they were all paid for with Lin Family’s silver.
She always asked for money, and spent it all every time she had some, so where would she have spare cash?
Lin Tingting was choked and could only shut her mouth.
Seeing Lin Tingting’s deflated expression, Jiang Ruanxi quietly put down her chopsticks, picked up the handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and said, “There are many things to arrange for the family banquet, so I’ll go take care of them first.”
After speaking, without looking at anyone’s expressions, she stood up and walked out directly.
Lin Tingting watched her back, so angry she wanted to hit someone.
“Mother, why don’t you properly manage her? Look at how smug she is now. She doesn’t take me seriously at all. I think you still need to set some rules for her. Which mother-in-law hasn’t finished eating yet when the daughter-in-law leaves the table? Even if she doesn’t take me seriously, if you let her continue like this, she definitely won’t take you seriously in the future either.”
“Enough. Your brother has been busy with his promotion recently. We only used her dowry, so she’s inevitably unhappy. Just bear with it. Once your brother’s matter is settled, I will naturally set rules for her properly.”
Madam Zhou ultimately didn’t want to tear face at this time, but Lin Tingting felt uncomfortable in her heart. Seeing her mother wouldn’t budge, she turned to Lin Ningkun. “Brother, don’t you care about this matter?”
Lin Ningkun’s mind was full of seeing Jiang Xuerou soon. If he quarreled with Jiang Ruanxi now, the banquet might not happen, and how would he see his beloved?
He deliberately put on a stern face, speaking in an elder brother’s tone. “Third Sister, Second Sister-in-law is right. The marquis manor has its rules. Everything follows the marquis manor’s rules.”
Lin Tingting was dumbfounded. Her second brother, who used to dote on her, was actually standing by that woman’s side and saying these words to her?
Damn Jiang Ruanxi. It was all because of her that she was being criticized by her own mother and brother. She would make her pay.
Three days later, Lin Family held a family banquet, inviting relatives and friends to welcome Lin Ningkun.
Madam Wei arrived at Lin Family early, but because of the unpleasantness with Jiang Ruanxi last time, she wasn’t very warm.
Jiang Ruanxi was busy greeting the female guests and had no time to pay attention to her.
Soon, Jiang Xuerou arrived.
Madam Wei quickly stood up, smiling as she went to greet her, saying with heartache, “The weather is so hot, why didn’t you bring an umbrella? Look, your face is tanned.”
Jiang Ruanxi saw the gentleness in Madam Wei’s eyes and the mother-daughter-like scene, and a trace of mockery rose in her heart.
At her coming-of-age ceremony, she learned she wasn’t her parents’ biological child. After being brought back by Yongyi Marquis Manor, she saw countless Jiang Family members’ gentleness and doting toward Jiang Xuerou. She too had once fantasized about such a warm scene.
